All politics are local

The title of this blog entry is one truism in politics – it’s all local.

The quote has been originally attributed to Tip O’Neill. He intended for members of Congress to remember that the issues of their hometowns are really what matters, even if you’re sitting in Washington.

The quote is oft repeated to remind politicians that, first and foremost, you need to answer to the people who put you in office.

And for Knox County officeholders that means being responsive to your constituents.

One West Knox County neighborhood off Northshore Drive was left well short of that standard this week.

The Lyons Crossing neighborhood was so upset that I heard from two of its residents by phone and later by email.

As a sheriff’s candidate, what I could do is listen and promise that, if elected, responsiveness to calls is a primary responsibility of the department.

Essentially trees downed power lines and left the roadway a mess on July 29.

The trouble begins with downed power lines

Then, the traffic backup starts.

Residents and a delivery truck are stalled

So, a neighbor has to become traffic patrol.

A needed gesture but not the safest solution for the neighborhood

And the traffic kept getting worse.

The traffic snarl continues

A very fed-up neighbor decides to make her feelings known.

A living political endorsement

But at least the beer truck got through.

A narrow squeeze for truck and car

All jokes aside about the beer truck making it in, I can promise you firsthand that this neighborhood was upset.

And when they couldn’t reach the current sheriff, they reached his opponent. That’s a bad way to do business with the people.

Speaking of bad business practices, I keep getting reports from campaign volunteers that Tyree for Sheriff signs that they put out have been stolen by the next day.

A lawyer in Fountain City actually caught someone doing it. He claimed he needed to mow the area and even was toting around a lawn mower as a prop. But the sign had been placed with permission, and the “mower” holds a county office.

I could file a complaint but to who? My opponent? Ha!

So I’ll just ask nicely: Please stop stealing our signs. That’s not the way to conduct the county’s business either.